Are you or someone you know married? Are you looking for ways to celebrate your marriage on a day other than your anniversary? Don’t worry, this isn’t a pop-quiz. Every year the Church celebrates World Marriage Week, and the second Sunday of February is World Marriage Sunday. This is an opportunity for us to reflect on and celebrate this beautiful vocation and Sacrament. As a married man who loves being married (it is the best life I’ve lived), and as the associate director of Marriage Ministries and NFP, I’m sharing some thoughts on how to carry forward the spirit of World Marriage Week.
Did you spend hours painstakingly choosing the best photos and layout for a wedding album? When was the last time you looked at your wedding album? Have you shown the album to your children? Time and effort went into capturing the “best moments” of one of the happiest days of your life. Go through the album and share about the day.
Reflect on why you wanted to get married and what your marriage has meant to you. What did you think marriage would be like? Share what you remember about the day. What were you looking forward to? If you could relive one moment of the day, what would you want to experience all over again?
Recreate your reception (on a small scale)! Have a fancy meal and get dressed up. If you have children, invite them to offer a toast. It could be fun to hear what they have observed about marriage from the both of you. Share your “first dance.” What comes to mind listening to your “first dance” song again?
Have your rings professionally cleaned and re-exchange them to one another by saying “Receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” The rings are a sign to you, and to the world, of your vocation.
The best way to commemorate your marriage, however, is through prayer. Pray for those who were present at your wedding, especially those who have since passed on to eternal life. And ask those who are now in heaven, to pray for you and your marriage. If you remember the Readings proclaimed at your wedding, read them and if possible, attend Mass at the parish where you were married.
If you have children, maybe invite them to proclaim the Readings and then have a discussion on what the text means to them. If you can’t remember your Readings, reflect on one of the many options available online. Any one of the nuptial Readings is fertile ground for Lectio Divina.
Recite your marriage vows. If the last time you said them was your wedding day, you’re likely not alone, but hopefully that wasn’t the last time you thought about them! How have you seen your vows lived out in your life? How much more meaningful have they become now that you have a life together to look back on? Knowing one another more intimately, how can your vows inspire your future? Reflect on how your marriage makes God’s love known in the world. Discuss how you can grow in this area and how you’d like to grow as a couple. What is something you want to invite the Lord into in your marriage?
Finally, pray together. Pray with and for each another. And, invite the Lord to bless your spouse.
Nick Petrillo is diocesan associate director of Marriage Ministries and Natural Family Planning.
Faith at Home is a monthly column coordinated by the Diocese of Trenton’s Departments of Catechesis, Evangelization and Family Life, and Youth and Young Adult Ministry. For additional Faith at Home resources, visit dioceseoftrenton.org/faith-at-home.